WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Penn State baseball team came out on top, 7-6, in a back-and-forth game at William & Mary on Sunday at Plumeri Park. Matt Maloney drove in three runs with three hits, while Joe Jaconski scored the go-ahead run in the ninth.
Penn State moved to 8-1 on the year with its seventh-straight win. The Nittany Lions are 8-1 to start a season for the first time since 1980.
PSU has won seven-straight games for the first time since March 26-April 6, 2016 (at Illinois, 3/26; Youngstown State, 3/29; Binghamton, 3/30; Purdue, 4/1-3; Pitt, 4/5; at Lafayette, 4/6).
Sophomore Matt Morash got the start on the bump for the Nittany Lions. Morash went three innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He notched two strikeouts and three walks. Morash fired scoreless frames in the second and third innings.
Mason Butash tossed 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits. The sophomore registered two strikeouts and two walks. Anthony Steele went 1.1 innings, giving up one run (unearned) on two hits and striking out one. Dimond Loosli closed out the game with two shutout innings to earn the win. He allowed two hits and struck out one.
Ryan Feczko earned the start for William & Mary, going 4.2 innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits. Feczko recorded two strikeouts. Owen Pierce worked 3.2 innings in relief, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits. Pierce tallied six strikeouts and two walks. Jack Weight finished out the ninth.
Penn State collected seven runs on 11 hits. Maloney led the way with three hits, two doubles, and three RBI. Ryan Weingartner contributed two hits and an RBI. Cohl Mercado added two hits and a run.
William & Mary tallied six runs on 13 hits. Jamie Laskofski recorded four hits, two runs and a steal. Derek Holmes had two hits and three RBI.
The Tribe got on the board in the first. Laskofski led off with a single to center. A walk by Ben Parker put runners on first and second. A bloop single into center by Anthony Greco drove in Laskofski. After a groundout moved runners up to second and third, Holmes chopped a grounder into left to bring in two runs. William & Mary led 3-0.
Penn State tied the game in the second. With one out, Jack Porter was hit by a pitch. An infield single by Maloney put runners on first and second. Jesse Jaconski sent a single through the middle to bring home Porter. A single to left by Mercado loaded the bases. On a fielder’s choice by Paxton Kling, Maloney was thrown out at home but an error on a throw towards first allowed Jaconski to cross the plate. Weingartner beat out an infield single as Mercado came in to score. The game was even at 3-3.
The Nittany Lions took the lead in the fifth. With two outs, Cole Wagner lined a single into center. Porter followed with a single through the left side to put two runners on. Maloney sent a grounder down the right field line and into the corner for a double as Wagner and Porter hustled home to put Penn State ahead, 5-3.
William & Mary answered in the bottom half. Parker was hit by a pitch to start the inning and stole second before Greco drew a walk. Holmes hit another chopped grounder into right field to bring home Parker. The Tribe cut its deficit to 5-4.
The Tribe tied the game in the sixth. Laskofski reached on a fielder’s choice before a walk by Parker put runners on first and second. Lucas Carmichael bounced a grounder through the middle to bring in Laskofski. The game was even at 5-5.
Penn State re-claimed the lead in the top of the seventh. With one out, Wagner was hit by a pitch. He stole second before Maloney lined a single into left-center to bring in Wagner. PSU led 6-5.
William & Mary re-tied the game in the seventh. Christian Rush reached on an error and moved up to second on the play. A wild pitch moved rush to third. After a walk by Jerry Barnes, a single up the middle by Charlie Iriotakis brought home Rush. The game was tied at 6-6.
The Nittany Lions took the lead in the top of the ninth. Joe Jaconski held off on a 3-1 pitch for a leadoff walk. With one out, Jaconski stole second and moved up to third on a throwing error. Wagner drew a walk, holding off on a 3-1 pitch, with ball four bouncing away from the catcher for a wild pitch to allow Jaconski to cross the plate. PSU led 7-6.
Penn State hosts FDU for its home opener on Tuesday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m. It will also be PSU’s first Dollar Dog Night of the season.
The Nittany Lions welcome Indiana for its Big Ten opening series on March 7-9.
All home games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are free admission for all ages.
The 2025 Penn State Baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.